Adams Green: The park planned for downtown Quincy

There has been much discussion about Adams Green, a park planned in front of city hall as part of the downtown redevelopment project. Here's what you need to know.

By Patrick Ronan

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Patrick Ronan

Posted Sep. 6, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 6, 2013 at 6:11 AM

By Patrick Ronan

Posted Sep. 6, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 6, 2013 at 6:11 AM

» Social News

There has been much discussion about Adams Green, a park planned in front of city hall as part of the downtown redevelopment project. Here's what you need to know.

What is Adams Green?

Adams Green is the working title for a new public park proposed for Quincy Center and a crucial piece of the $1.6 billion plan for downtown redevelopment.

The park, which would redirect traffic on Hancock Street, would run between the Church of the Presidents, city hall, Hancock Cemetery and the Quincy Center MBTA station.

The purpose of the park is to accentuate Quincy’s history while also giving the public a place to walk, ride bikes, eat, watch live performances and enjoy other outdoor activities.

Streets and sidewalks

Construction includes widening sidewalks; installing new traffic signals; discontinuing southbound traffic on Hancock Street; converting Washington Street between Hancock and Temple streets from a one-way to a two-way road; converting Temple Street between Washington and Hancock streets from a one-way to a two-way road; and discontinuing the southerly portion of Hancock Street.

The design contractor is Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates Inc. of Boston.

The design cost is $900,000.

Payment is coming from the state Department of Transportation via federally earmarked funds.

Smaller costs for lighting and crosswalk improvements will be covered by money borrowed by the city, which is expected to be reimbursed through new downtown tax revenue.

The construction contractor is yet to be determined. Bidding is set to close Tuesday.

The estimated construction cost is $5.7 million.

The timeline calls for work to start as early as this fall and be completed by the end of 2015. The portion of Hancock Street between city hall and Church of the Presidents will be closed and replaced with the park sometime in 2014.

The park

Work will include putting in green space, walkways, bike paths, flowers, trees, art and other park amenities.

The design contractor is Halvorson Design Partnership.

The design cost is $1.4 million.

Payment will include $1 million from the state’s Gateway City Parks program and $400,000 from Quincy.

The construction contractor has yet to be determined. Design is about 25 percent complete.

Page 2 of 2 - The construction cost is estimated at $25 million.

Payment is expected to come from a state financing plan. The state has given preliminary approval for I-Cubed funding. Final approval is needed for project to go forward.

Timeline:Work is expected to begin next year and be completed in 2015.